I'm a HUGE fan of the MS Smartphone platform, and the MPx220 is my daily phone. This little device can not only can sync your calendar, contacts, tasks, and e-mail, but it also supports POP access, lets you browse the 'Net, and sports an integrated speaker phone, Dial by Name, and J2ME.

The only drawback I've found is the miniSD card slot, and that's only a drawback because I just bought a 1 GB SD card.

Besides that, this phone does everything I need and more. It's got a built-in document viewer so that I can read my Excel and Word docs on the fly, a media player, and two great color screens for my viewing pleasure.

This is also the first PDA/mobile device that palmsolo convinced his wife to try … now she won't give it back to him.

The open Motorola MPx220

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Product: CarChipWebsite: DavisNet.comPrice: $139; starting from $99 on the Last Gadget Standing award and which won the online voting portion. The CarChip plugs into the standard OBDII port in your car (found in different locations DavisNet will point you to) and then monitors and records up to 75 hours of trip details.

I tested it for a month in my Silverado Z71 and then for a month in my wife's Acura. The logs allow you to view the time and date of each trip, the distance traveled, the speed traveled (recorded every 5 seconds), and braking and acceleration data. I found that my wife exceeded 89 MPH a couple of times in her rush around the area, while my top speed was about 68 MPH on the highway (since I am a very conservative driver and have not been pulled over in my 20 years of driving). Tracking all this data can help you adjust your driving habits or check to see if your teenager is driving within the bounds you have set.

Another great feature of the CarChip is the ability to read the diagnostic trouble code and even reset the light when your check engine light is activated. The CarChip connects to your desktop computer via a serial port. You can then download the data and plot it on various graphs and tables. If you track mileage as an expense for taxes, this is a nice, seamless way to get that that data logged for you.

I mentioned this in the Holiday Buyer's Guide, and it is still making the list of things to get. If you're ready to experience the NEW Nintendo, you can pick up a number of DS game cartridges and start gaming with two screens and 3-D! This clamshell-style gaming device also features built-in Wi-Fi so that you can play against your friends.

The best feature by far, though, is that on some games you can play the same game against someone else without them needing to have the cartridge–way to go, Nintendo!

If you have older Game Boy Advance games, right out of the box the DS can still use them–just plug them into the cartridge slot. How's that for backwards compatibility?

And if you're worried that it doesn't have the cool multimedia features that the PSP does, word on the street is that that functionality should be shipping by Christmas.

As I mentioned earlier, I have a lot of computers in the house. Lately, though, three of them have been sitting on top of one another. I now have an AMD 64, an old P3, and a Mac mini. I figured I'd try to keep a relatively clean desk, so I asked Belkin to send me the latest in KVM switching technology–the company sent out the OmniView.

The model I've got lets you control the video, audio, keyboard, and mouse for up to four computers. These computers can be hooked in by PS/2, USB, or both. In addition, the switch features a Flash upgradeable firmware, built-in cable management (in the form of a cover to mask the rat's nest), hot-keys from the keyboard to switch among computers, and buttons on the front of the device that you can trigger and that show you which port is active.

The only drawback I found is that the switch comes sans cables, so that will set you back $30-$40 per computer.

Otherwise, the OmniView SOHO Series is a solid KVM switch that now lets me seamlessly switch back and forth among my three machines and only use one keyboard, one mouse, and one monitor to do it.

I have been using an MDA III/i-Mate PDA2k since October 2004 (see my review), and I love having a converged device with ever so much functionality and wireless technology built into it.

One problem with using only this device as my phone, Wi-Fi device, Bluetooth modem, GPS navigation solution, etc., is that it consumes a lot of power. The battery that came with my PDA2k usually lasts a full day with standard usage. I bought a Mugen Power extended battery for my Dell Axim X30 over a year ago and was extremely impressed by the battery life provided. So, I was excited to see that the company was creating one for the Blue Angel devices; I finally got one to review in March.

I used Spb Benchmark to conduct battery tests with both my standard battery (1490 mAh) and the 3300 mAh Mugen Power version. Using the max backlight standard usage test I got four hours and 54 minutes with the 1490 mAh battery and a whopping 11 hours and 3 minutes with the Mugen Power battery.

I usually carry my standard battery during the work day (since it fits nicely in my carrying cases) and then switch to the Mugen Power one at home. I have gone all weekend with lots of Wi-Fi use with the 3300 mAh battery, and I love having all this power capacity. I took the 3300 mAh one on a recent maritime vessel salvage case when it was critical for me to have my phone operational 24 hours a day–the battery performed like a champ.

As you can see in the photos, the battery does protrude out the back of the device a bit, but it still feels very comfortable in my hand. I haven't found a case that will fit it yet and have just been carrying the PDA2k in my pocket with the battery attached.

The 3300 mAh battery weighs 2.7 ounces, while the 1490 mAh standard battery weighs 1.4 ounces. The additional capacity is worth the weight and size, and if you need to ensure the power is there when you need it, I highly recommend the Mugen Power extended battery solutions.

The company has batteries for many different devices, so check out the LION Battery site.

Hard drive music players are great for storing a large collections of songs, but they are not always the most convenient for taking out with you when you jog or exercise. SanDisk has some great flash-based MP3 players that include an FM radio and voice recorder.

The players are very light and small and come in three sizes and colors. You get a clear plastic case and a velcro armband strap to make it ready to go with you out of the box.

The players connect to your desktop via a standard mini-USB connection, and you can sync your music through Windows Media Player 10. Navigation is fairly straightforward with the little joystick controller, and a single AAA battery should last you for several workouts.

Back when I still had an iPod, DLO sent me a new iBoom Boombox to evaluate for a few weeks. You can slip a 3G/4G iPod or iPod mini into the iBoom and even get it charged up when plugged into a wall outlet. I was pleased with the sound output of the iBoom, and my oldest daughter wants one for her iPod mini since she likes to listen to tunes in her room.

The iBoom is made of a durable plastic, and the buttons make it easy to operate and use. It includes an FM receiver with a cool amber backlight.

If you are looking to turn your iPod into a portable stereo for others to listen to then the iBoom may be something for you to think about.

I believe that I've found the perfect accessory for my iPod mini. I had heard from a lot of friends about the TransPod, but when I finally started using it it was a whole different story.

First off, the TransPod is basically an FM transmitter that plugs into the cigarette lighter of your car. The nice thing about this, though, is that it's an all-in-one unit that not only lets you digitally set the station that you want to broadcast on, but also charges the iPod while you're using it! In addition, it features an adjustable mounting arm that allows you to put the iPod in just the right spot for your listening and navigating pleasure.

My favorite part about the TransPod is that I can go from listening to my iPod with headphones and then just drop it into the sleeve on the TransPod and instantly have my music streaming through my car speakers.

I have been using wireless 802.11b routers in my house for three years now, and I met with the ParkerVision folks at CES 2005 to hear about their long range SignalMax D2D technology routers and wireless products.

In my testing I have indeed found that the router gets a longer range than the four other routers I tested. You should understand that I primarily use the wireless network in my house to connect my mobile devices, and am not really concerned about data transfer speeds. Thus, this 802.11b router is a perfect solution for my needs to get longer range without having to achieve 802.11g speeds.

The Web-based setup software is easy to use (like most products on the market today), and it has most of the available wireless encryption options, except WPA.

It has been very stable and reliable in the two months I have been testing it out, and I recommend it if you are looking for a long-range router.

There are several GPS software solutions for Windows Mobile devices, compared to only a few select apps for Palm Powered devices, so I use my Windows Mobile devices as my primary GPS navigation unit paired with a Pharos Bluetooth receiver.

The latest version of PocketMap Navigator USA Edition improves upon an excellent product that I last checked out a couple of years ago. Some improvements include a human voice option, integrated Outlook Contacts support, 3-D perspective, real-time detours around traffic, expanded POI (points of interest) categories, and improved GPS auto detection.

You can plan long distance routes right on your Windows Mobile device without requiring a desktop PC, which is an important feature for me when I am traveling without a PC.

I fell in love with the last case Piel Frama sent me to review (see my X30 case review), and I didn't think I would find such a wonderful case again. I bought a Treo 650 device in February and needed a case with a belt clip that would allow me to carry it on my hip while still keeping the small form factor of the Treo.

Piel Frama sent me its cowskin, crocodile-style, black leather case for the Treo 650 to evaluate. Piel Frama's cases are handmade in Spain by quality craftsmen, and you receive the case in a high quality box with tissue packaging that oozes luxury. I opened up the box and was taken over by the leather smell and wonderful appearance of the case.

I quickly slid my 650 into the case and checked the fit and function. The Treo 650 slides in from the top and is held quite securely around the bottom and sides. Your device will slide out if you tip the case upside down with the flap open, which you should never do anyway.

Unlike cases for my PDA2k with thumb-keyboard, there is no plastic over the Treo keyboard and the leather around the opening does not hamper any key presses. The case is also open around the display to allow for a clear view of the screen. There is a slot on the left for the volume and multi-function button, and another around the bottom for the multi-connector and headset jack.

The flap has two SD holders and a general use pocket; it's quite stiff. There is an opening in the top flap that is designed so that the keyboard space bar is not pressed when the flap is closed, meaning your phone won't be answered accidentally. I have never had a problem with this while using the case. The flap secures around to the back of your Treo with a very strong magnet that works very well in securing your device.

The crocodile rippling adds some wonderful style to the case, and I am always getting comments on how impressive it looks. My Treo 650 has been living in the case, and it will be tough for any other case to take its place.

It's rare that I hang on to a piece of technology for longer than a couple of months, but this headset has been hanging on as a daily-use device for months now.

The best thing about this headset is how great it sounds, especially while the windows of my car are down. The other great things are that it's not that geeky looking and it's easy to use–I can pair the headset with any phone I want within seconds.

Also, it's tiny enough that I can just leave it in the cup holder in my car and about once a week or so I bring it into the office and put it in the charger for a few minutes. That's it! Otherwise, it's maintenance free.

palmsolo also uses this headset with his Treo 650 and i-mate PDA2k every day.

If you travel with your laptop this case is a must-have. Of course, I haven't traveled with it yet, but I've traveled plenty to know what the perfect case needs to have for the road warrior–and the Contour has it.

The Contour Roller features: a telescoping, curved handle that can be adjusted to your height to help reduce the weight that you're pulling; the SnugFit sleeve protection system that suspends and wraps your computer; the contour panel that is proven to reduce shoulder and back fatigue by 35%; the ergonomic, interlocking handles; and a whole lot more.

So that it doesn't sound like I just lifted the specs from the brochure, this is the big daddy of a case that I carried since December 2003 (see my review of the Kensington Sky Runner Contour Case), and I can't say enough good things about it.

My favorite new feature has to be the handy ticket compartment. I have a lot of gadgets on my person and I have to de-gadget myself before going through security. This pocket is perfect for fitting everything that I need to take out of my pockets before passing through. In addition, there are so many pockets on this case that this is the first time that I have unused compartments in the history of my use of laptop cases.

I'm so excited by what this case offers that I can't wait to take it for a plane ride.